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Originally Posted by Omaroo
What I am having problems with, however, is getting the ToUcam to fucus on-screen properly. Because I can't get its CCD array to line up with the focal point of any EP I have when sitting in the flip-mirror, I have no choice but to focus via the on-screen image. I just can't get good focus....at all. Am I doing something wrong (rhetorical question...)?
Cheers
Chris
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Hi Chris
You probably know this stuff already, but I’ll write it anyhow in case someone else stumbles on this discussion later on. To help with focusing the ToUcam, I use a parfocal ring like the one here
http://www.scopestuff.com/ss_par1.htm
As a one off operation, using a bright star or the Moon, focus with the ToUcam in the focuser. Then remove the ToUcam and slide in a suitable eyepiece (I use a 20mm Plossl) until the image snaps into focus. Now your eyepiece and ToUcam are at the same point of focus. In my set up, this leaves the eyepiece not fully inserted. That is, part of the shiny 1.25” barrel is outside of the focuser and it is at this position I fit the parfocal ring.
So, when I set up for the Sun, (with a full aperture solar filter), I typically plug in the eyepiece and seat it down to the parfocal ring and focus on either the limb or a sunspot. Then, I know that when I remove the eyepiece and plug in the ToUcam, the limb or sunspot will be on the chip and in reasonable focus. I then touch up the focus using my JMI motorized focuser. I follow the same operation when using the x2.5 and x5 Powermates.
I haven’t yet tried the same operation through a flip mirror. It would be ideal if you had an eyepiece in the viewing port that was parfocal with the ToUcam in the imaging port.
Cheers
Dennis